I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Thank you everyone for all the detailed advice - this thread is like a goldmine of solutions. I'm going to try the Account Recovery option first since that seems like it might be the fastest route, and I love that @b9ced393b56c mentioned using the same browser you originally set up the account with. That's such a specific detail that could make all the difference! If that doesn't work, I'll definitely try the technical support line at 518-457-9000 (press 3 then 2) that @1dc1fac72b82 shared. Having that direct path to the right department is huge - I've been calling the main line and getting transferred around forever. @b32aa47aa7e1 please keep us updated on what ends up working for you! I'm sure there are tons of other people lurking here with the same problem who would benefit from knowing which solution actually does the trick. Fingers crossed we both get this sorted out soon! 🤞

I just wanted to chime in with another potential solution that worked for me when I had a similar phone number issue a couple months back! If none of the other great suggestions here work out, you can also try reaching out through their Facebook page or Twitter (@nyslabor). I know it sounds weird, but their social media team actually responded to my DM within a few hours and connected me with someone who could help reset my account. They had me send a photo of my ID and answer some verification questions through the direct message, then they manually updated my phone number and sent me new login credentials. It felt a bit unconventional, but honestly it was faster than waiting on hold for hours! Sometimes these government agencies are surprisingly responsive on social media because they know it's public-facing. Worth a shot if the phone lines and online options aren't working out! 📱

I went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! After reading through all these great suggestions, I want to add one more tip that helped me: if you have any old employment verification letters or reference letters from your restaurant job, sometimes the EAN appears on those documents too. I found mine on a letter the manager wrote for me when I was applying for an apartment. Also, if you're still in touch with any former coworkers, they might be going through the same process and could share the EAN if they found it. Don't beat yourself up about not having this information readily available - it's definitely not something most employees think to save when they're working. The system really is set up to handle these situations, so file your claim with confidence using just the basic business info. You've got this!

Hey there! I totally understand your frustration - I went through something similar when I filed my claim last year. One thing that might help is checking if you have any old bank statements from when you were working at the restaurant. Sometimes direct deposit transactions will show additional employer identification numbers that could help the DOL match your employment record. Also, if the restaurant ever gave you any kind of employee handbook or orientation materials when you started, those sometimes contain tax ID information too. But honestly, after reading all these responses, I think the best advice is just to go ahead and file using the restaurant's name and address - it sounds like the DOL has this process down to a science for handling missing EAN numbers. Don't let this one piece of paperwork delay getting your benefits started!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! Just got laid off from a company based in Arizona but I work remotely from my apartment in Manhattan. When I called DOL last week, they had absolutely no wage records for my main employer - only showed a small side gig I do locally. The rep seemed totally lost and just told me to "send in some pay stubs" without any clear process or timeline. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue! Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to call back tomorrow and specifically ask for a "Combined Wage Claim investigation" using the exact terminology mentioned. I'll also make sure to upload my paystubs through the online portal with the specific labeling suggestions and ask for a case number to track progress. It's really reassuring to hear that people are successfully getting through this process and receiving back pay once everything is resolved, even though it takes longer than normal claims. Thank you all for sharing your detailed experiences - you've given me (and clearly many others) a roadmap for navigating this confusing situation that the DOL website completely fails to explain!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just filed my claim this week after being laid off from a Nevada-based company where I work remotely from Albany. When I called DOL yesterday, they had absolutely no record of my wages from my main employer - only showed a small tutoring gig I do on weekends. The rep seemed completely confused about out-of-state employment and just told me to "mail in some documents" with zero specifics. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea so many people were going through the identical situation! Based on everyone's detailed experiences here, I'm calling back tomorrow to specifically request a "Combined Wage Claim investigation" using the exact terminology mentioned. I'll also upload my paystubs through the online portal with the clear labeling suggestions and make sure to ask for a case number to track progress. It's really encouraging to see that people are successfully getting their benefits resolved and receiving back pay, even though the process takes several weeks longer than normal claims. The fact that this is apparently such a widespread issue but there's virtually no information about it on the DOL website is pretty frustrating. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so thoroughly - you've given me and clearly many others a detailed roadmap for navigating this complicated process that the DOL reps seem completely unprepared to handle!

good point about keeping records. i always screenshot my weekly claim confirmations just in case

Just wanted to share my experience - I had a similar situation last year. You definitely want to file that final weekly claim and report your new job start date and expected earnings. I reported everything properly and had no issues. The system automatically closed my claim after I stopped filing. One tip: if you're starting on a Monday, that counts as working during that benefit week, so make sure to report it even though you'll only work a few days. Better to over-communicate with NYS DOL than leave them guessing why you stopped filing.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help others in similar situations. I went through this exact same scenario about 6 weeks ago - got denied for insufficient base period wages but could still certify weekly. Like many of you, I was terrified I was doing something wrong! After reading through this thread, I feel much better about the advice I received from a NYSDOL agent (took me 4 days of calling to get through). She confirmed that when you're denied for regular UI due to insufficient wages, the system automatically keeps you active while they evaluate your alternate base period eligibility. The key is that your denial letter should specifically mention this ABP evaluation - if it does, you absolutely should continue certifying weekly. I ended up getting approved under ABP and received backpay for all the weeks I had properly certified during the evaluation period. The whole process took about 5 weeks from denial to approval. My advice: keep certifying, document everything, and don't panic - this is actually a pretty common situation that usually works out in the claimant's favor!

I'm new to this community and just went through this exact situation! Got denied for insufficient base period wages about 3 weeks ago but could still certify weekly. I was so confused and worried I was doing something wrong, but after calling NYSDOL (finally got through after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned), the agent confirmed that my denial letter mentioned ABP evaluation and I should absolutely keep certifying. She explained that the system automatically keeps you active during the alternate base period review, and if you stop certifying during this time, you could lose out on weeks of benefits if you do get approved. I'm still waiting for my ABP determination, but it's such a relief to know this is normal and I'm doing the right thing. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when real people share their actual experiences rather than trying to decode the confusing official letters. For anyone else in this situation, definitely check if your denial letter mentions ABP evaluation and keep detailed records of everything!